MORTGAGES
GHB offers new loan package
Scheme aims to help low-income groups as part of economic stimulus
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COMMERCE
Exporters drive big trade gap
First-quarter surplus hits US$4.27 bn as exports increase 18% year on year
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Late news :Power soars
Electricity demand hit a record high of 22,216 megawatts on Monday, says the Energy Planning and Policy Office.
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AIS seeks 2.7m new subscribers
Advanced Info Service (AIS) is confident it will meet its target for new subscribers this year, despite the slowing economy.
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BUSINESS-SUPPLY MARKET
Office Depot set for major expansion
Office Club (Thai), the operator of office-equipment retailer Office Depot, an associate of the Central Group, is planning to spend Bt50 million to Bt100 million this year to open five new branches, bringing to 25 the number of Office Depot stores.
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Law to allow nuclear power
The Science and Technology Ministry is amending the law on nuclear technology to pave the way for Thailand's first nuclear power plant, Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand said.
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Thai help for Lao airport expansion
The Thai government is providing Laos with Bt320 million in aid money to expand Pakse Airport.
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Sangthong TV School changes to IT centre
Sangthong Television School, one of the country's oldest specialist mechanical schools, will undertake a rebranding strategy to expand its student base and achieve its revenue target of Bt50 million this year.
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Central Watsons plans Bt300m revamp of its Thai operation
Asia's largest health and beauty retailer, Central Watsons, will spend more than Bt300 million this year to reshuffle its Watsons operation in Thailand
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Central keen on duty-free concessions
The Central Group, which is Thailand's largest retailer, and foreign operators are racing to bid for concessions to run duty-free shops at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
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ZINC PRODUCTION
Padaeng in amalgamation deal
Umicore, the Belgian major shareholder of Thailand's Padaeng Industry (PDI), has reached an agreement with the Australian company, Zinifex, to combine their respective zinc-smelting and -alloying businesses and create the world's leading zinc-metal producer, with operations on four continents.
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Budget hiked for pipeline plan
PTT has increased its investment budget for the third-phase natural gas pipeline project by Bt28 billion to a total of Bt185 billion to reflect the rising costs of construction materials.
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BOT lowers growth projection as demand weakens
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has revised downward its economic growth projection for this year by around a quarter of a percentage point to 3.8-4.8 per cent due to worsening domestic demand.
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STREET WISE
Annual reports a burden for some
An increasing number of items must be included in the annual reports of listed companies in Singapore to promote transparency on the stock exchange. Hence, the thicker-than-ever annual reports are taking a toll on postal carriers.
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Home-builder designs cheaper two-storey homes
Home-building firm Bangkok House Builder has launched new housing designs and adopted a pricing strategy of offering homes for less than Bt1 million, to capture the low- to middle-levels of the domestic market in hopes of achieving total sales of Bt200 million this year.
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Isobar's first SE Asia operation in Bangkok
Thailand will be the first country in Southeast Asia where Isobar fully opens its Internet search marketing unit iProspect, its executives said.
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LG launches new flagship phone
South Korea's LG Electronics is targeting more than double growth for its handset sales in Thailand this year, with the highlight being its new flagship mobile phone, the LG Shine.
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Forex earnings boost banks' profits
Banks enjoyed first-quarter gains of up to 100 per cent in foreign-exchange business, thanks to the volatility of the baht and the Bank of Thailand's capital-control measure.
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SET requires clarification on KMC's share sale
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is requiring Krisdamahanakorn (KMC) to clarify by tomorrow several issues related to the company's planned 1.5-billion capital-increase share sale to Sophast Intercorp.
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600,000 to visit expo
At least 600,000 visitors are expected at Money Expo 2007, similar to last year's turnout, Santi Viriyarangsarit, chairman of the organising committee, said yesterday.
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Company reports
CL LOXINFO announced it would pay a dividend of 74 satang a share for last year's operations, 60 satang of which was paid as an interim dividend last September 4.
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STOCK FOCUS
Bangkok Bank (BBL)
Tisco Securities has reiterated its "buy" rating for Bangkok Bank shares, with a 12-month target price of Bt122 apiece.
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Property firm a family affair
Husband and wife Wallapa and Tor return from Hong Kong to lend expertise to
TCC Land and TCC Capital Land in beverage tycoon Charoen's large empire
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